I noticed I haven't updated on this one in a long time either. Sheesh. I know my life has gotten busy, but you'd think updating once a week shouldn't be hard! Anyway, here's a brief recap of the last 7 weeks... plus this week, week 22.
Week 15 - Memorize scripture
I botched this one. Didn't do it. At all. Sigh. I had great intentions, but intentions dont get things done. I memorized scripture for the 'armor of God' week, but not this week. I really need to sit down and DO this.
Week 16 - Take a mental break
I actually did this... mostly. I decided to take the time that I nursed my daughter to just think of nothing... and admire her beautiful face. It has been good for me. I really need to take more time out of my day, stop with the multitasking, and relax. I can't even sit and watch a good tv show without doing something else at the same time. This is burning me out. Really. I need to continue to take a few minutes out of my day and do NOTHING! No computer, no to-do list, no multitasking... maybe just listen to music and sing.
Week 17 - Get moving
This wasn't too hard for me. The challenge was to take 20 minutes a day and exercise in some way. So, I did walks (played 'crocodile' with my kids by chasing them around the dining room table, or bouncing our baby as I tryed to calm her down by walking as well), played our dance game, did the wii fit (it's been a long time!), etc.
Week 18 - purge the past
I had no idea what to purge here. I've been steadily purging things in our house, and this challenge was to purge items that have some kind of negative memory associated with them. I've gotten rid of just about all that stuff already. The only negative thoughts associated with stuff for me right now is 'man, look at that clutter... I must clean it up'. So, I purged facebook. I decided to stay off facebook from now on except for Thursdays. That is my only 'allowable' day.
Week 19 - Let go and Let God
I only did this one this week. Being off facebook meant I wasn't getting to the updates. Oops. The challenge was to take a jar, write down on paper any unanswered prayers, put them in the jar, and give them to God. I have a lot. Most of them related to house, farm, and school (and politics now as well). The significance of putting them in the jar was kinda lost on me though. I guess I should really make that jar prominant, so when I see it, I'll remember that those are for God to deal with, not me. Doing the Truth Challenge in our Bible study has been helping me though, as well. Realizing God is in control (yeah... I already knew that but needed a reminder) helps to give things over to Him a bit easier. Too bad I'm a bit of a control freak. Should put that in the jar too!
Week 20 - Schedule prayer time
I am way behind as I am kinda doing this challenge this week instead. I already spend time in prayer a couple of times a day, but not in the type of prayer I really need. No more prayer wish lists! I actually prayed about that the other day (go figure). I want to really set time for this before supper each day... which will also correspond with week 21...
Week 21 - Leave work at work
This challenge is to take 15 minutes after work to change, deep breathe, stretch and pray, in an effort to destress from work and make your home a place of peace. I will be doing this before supper as it is the time shortly before my husband arrives home. I WILL do this... I will, I will! For years now I've been making it my priority to make sure the house is tidy and the kids are happy with the ready meal for when my husband arrives in the door. Lately that hasn't been happening like I want it to. Feeding schedule has been disrupting things a bit. That's ok, though. We'll make this work.
Week 22 - Know Your Love Language (this week)
I think I'll be asking my husband to have time with me as we read that book again... yes, we have it. I already know that his love language is Words of Affirmation, and mine is Quality Time... so I want to try to get myself to use more affirming words for my spouse, and do things in the home so when he is here, we CAN have some quality time. Easier said than done. No joke.
Well, that is the whole kit and kaboodle! We'll see if I can do the last three weeks in one... hahaha. Multitasking again... naughty naughty!
Monday, May 27, 2013
Sunday, May 26, 2013
Savings Sunday
I really want to start blogging a little more regularly, so I'm going to start a new 'series'... we'll see how long I last, haha.
Anyway, as you can see, I want to start something called 'Savings Sunday'. Basically, I will write about some tips I'm learning and attempting, or follow up on something that I've been trying as something new, that will save us money in the long run. With a family of 5, and our income not going up, along with basic living costs on the rise, I think I'll need to find even more methods to save us money.
Over the last few years I've been attempting a few things to save our family money. First thing I did was stop all the unnecessary spending so we could eliminate our debt. The amount of money you save by eliminating debt can be huge! Just $1000 in credit card debt will run you $240 in interest at 22% in one year. Yes, it is more than the $220 because you pay interest on the interest on a monthly basis. And that is only on $1000. Here are a few other things I've done that have saved us a lot, and I'm hoping these tips could help you as well.
Use your credit card - Yes, you heard right. Credit card companies don't charge monthly fees for using them like the banks do. We've saved over $15-$20 per month just by using our credit card for almost all our purchases. Not only that, but using your credit card will add value to it... by the points system it uses. Using our credit card for most purchases allows us to gain about $200 a year (or more, depending on your spending amounts) in points that can be used for whatever you need it for! (personally, I use it on groceries on months where I would otherwise be over budget). Pretty handy, if I do say so myself. Just make sure to track all your spending and pay it off every month so you don't get charged interest fees. Making a budget and tracking your spending on a weekly basis can really help in that area... just to keep you and your family on track (I notice when I'm lax on keeping track, we spend much more than usual in short order).
Reuse and Recycle - Seriously, you'd be surprised at all the things you can use that would usually head into the trash. For example, I got a bunch of organizing 'shoe boxes' for free by using the containers that package my organic greens instead! At $1.50 a piece, that is pretty nice! Especially since I buy most of my greens at 50% off and sale prices. And who needs to spend good money on toys? Why not make your own out of boxes? My kids love to play pretend store with the old boxes for awhile. Check out pinterest for other awesome ideas that cost nothing. Example, who loves shrinkydink paper? You could buy it a Michaels, or you could use the plastic packaging from food items (look for the recycling symbol 6, apparently this can be used similarly to shrinkydinks and I will be attempting this with the kids sometime soon).
Compost and Garden - something I'm NOT good at. I am attempting some new things this year however to save on groceries. There are pins all over pinterest that talk about using the groceries you buy to make your own garden (instead of paying good money on seeds). I'm trying to grow celery and spegghetti squash this year. Grabbed the seeds from the squash and will be attempting to grow them using tips I found on the web. Used the base of my celery stalk and put them into a cup of water, which I will plant later (pics I've seen show the stub growing a new stalk in the water, and then they say to plant it outside). Since my only attempt at a garden really bit the dust, I'm hoping to try this again, and maybe succeed a little better.
There are many other ways to save money as well! I hope to go into saving money with a baby, things to reduce eating out costs, bringing down your grocery bill, etc. But for now, it's time for me to head to bed.
Have any tips to share? Feel free to comment with them here!
Anyway, as you can see, I want to start something called 'Savings Sunday'. Basically, I will write about some tips I'm learning and attempting, or follow up on something that I've been trying as something new, that will save us money in the long run. With a family of 5, and our income not going up, along with basic living costs on the rise, I think I'll need to find even more methods to save us money.
Over the last few years I've been attempting a few things to save our family money. First thing I did was stop all the unnecessary spending so we could eliminate our debt. The amount of money you save by eliminating debt can be huge! Just $1000 in credit card debt will run you $240 in interest at 22% in one year. Yes, it is more than the $220 because you pay interest on the interest on a monthly basis. And that is only on $1000. Here are a few other things I've done that have saved us a lot, and I'm hoping these tips could help you as well.
Use your credit card - Yes, you heard right. Credit card companies don't charge monthly fees for using them like the banks do. We've saved over $15-$20 per month just by using our credit card for almost all our purchases. Not only that, but using your credit card will add value to it... by the points system it uses. Using our credit card for most purchases allows us to gain about $200 a year (or more, depending on your spending amounts) in points that can be used for whatever you need it for! (personally, I use it on groceries on months where I would otherwise be over budget). Pretty handy, if I do say so myself. Just make sure to track all your spending and pay it off every month so you don't get charged interest fees. Making a budget and tracking your spending on a weekly basis can really help in that area... just to keep you and your family on track (I notice when I'm lax on keeping track, we spend much more than usual in short order).
Reuse and Recycle - Seriously, you'd be surprised at all the things you can use that would usually head into the trash. For example, I got a bunch of organizing 'shoe boxes' for free by using the containers that package my organic greens instead! At $1.50 a piece, that is pretty nice! Especially since I buy most of my greens at 50% off and sale prices. And who needs to spend good money on toys? Why not make your own out of boxes? My kids love to play pretend store with the old boxes for awhile. Check out pinterest for other awesome ideas that cost nothing. Example, who loves shrinkydink paper? You could buy it a Michaels, or you could use the plastic packaging from food items (look for the recycling symbol 6, apparently this can be used similarly to shrinkydinks and I will be attempting this with the kids sometime soon).
Compost and Garden - something I'm NOT good at. I am attempting some new things this year however to save on groceries. There are pins all over pinterest that talk about using the groceries you buy to make your own garden (instead of paying good money on seeds). I'm trying to grow celery and spegghetti squash this year. Grabbed the seeds from the squash and will be attempting to grow them using tips I found on the web. Used the base of my celery stalk and put them into a cup of water, which I will plant later (pics I've seen show the stub growing a new stalk in the water, and then they say to plant it outside). Since my only attempt at a garden really bit the dust, I'm hoping to try this again, and maybe succeed a little better.
There are many other ways to save money as well! I hope to go into saving money with a baby, things to reduce eating out costs, bringing down your grocery bill, etc. But for now, it's time for me to head to bed.
Have any tips to share? Feel free to comment with them here!
Friday, May 10, 2013
Ten Years and Counting
To my dear Husband,
It is founded in Christ, who brought us together,
And was our witness 10 years ago as we committed ourselves
To spend the rest of our lives with each other,
To the exclusion of all others.
And pain we wouldn’t wish to have again,
Pain I wouldn’t change for the world.
In the good times and bad, our relationship has been strengthened.
God has continued to bless us as we’ve walked with him, Hand in Hand.
I am thankful for the good and the bad.
I am blessed to be your wife.
When we are apart, I realize my love for you in my longing to be together again.
Even after 10 years, my heart still soars when I hear your footsteps approach,
When I hear the door open and your voice call ‘I’m home!”
I may not show it, but it is there.
Which is what drew me to you to begin with.
You complement me perfectly,
It is in our differences where we flourish as a couple.
As a family.
You have pushed me over the years to accept myself and grow myself
Because of your strengths, I am no longer afraid to be myself
I can be the person God made me without fear of criticism.
I am thankful for your silent strength,
Your acceptance of all of me,
Even if one day you come home to a disaster
As I am hitting a creative streak
And the next I’m in a whirlwind of cleaning
Striking fear into any who may cross my path.
You weather my tumult of emotions with strength.
God knew what He was doing when he placed you into my life.
I may not always say it, and I may not always show it
But I want you to know that you are the only one for me.
You are the only one I want to spend my life with.
If I don’t say or do things like I did when we were first married
I want you to know it is because I am so comfortable with you
That I cannot picture my life without you.
Thank you for choosing me.
Thank you for marrying me 10 years ago today.
I praise the Lord for all He has brought us through together,
And I accept the challenges, joys, and grief that we have yet to face
Because we will face them together.
Thank you for being my reliable rock,
My partner in crime,
My loving husband.
I love you,
Forever and for always,
With God as my witness,
For better or worse,
Richer or poorer,
In sickness and health,
Until death do us part.
I love you.
I love you more now than ever.
A love like this is not based upon mere feelings.It is founded in Christ, who brought us together,
And was our witness 10 years ago as we committed ourselves
To spend the rest of our lives with each other,
To the exclusion of all others.
We have weathered much in the last 10 years.
We have seen joys we couldn’t describe, And pain we wouldn’t wish to have again,
Pain I wouldn’t change for the world.
In the good times and bad, our relationship has been strengthened.
God has continued to bless us as we’ve walked with him, Hand in Hand.
I am thankful for the good and the bad.
I am blessed to be your wife.
When we are apart, I realize my love for you in my longing to be together again.
Even after 10 years, my heart still soars when I hear your footsteps approach,
When I hear the door open and your voice call ‘I’m home!”
I may not show it, but it is there.
Over the years I may have become overly critical.
For that I apologize, and I will do my best to
remember that you are not me,Which is what drew me to you to begin with.
You complement me perfectly,
It is in our differences where we flourish as a couple.
As a family.
I am thankful for your generosity,
Your gifts of helps, You have pushed me over the years to accept myself and grow myself
Because of your strengths, I am no longer afraid to be myself
I can be the person God made me without fear of criticism.
I am thankful for your silent strength,
Your acceptance of all of me,
Even if one day you come home to a disaster
As I am hitting a creative streak
And the next I’m in a whirlwind of cleaning
Striking fear into any who may cross my path.
You weather my tumult of emotions with strength.
God knew what He was doing when he placed you into my life.
My dear Husband, I love you.
I love you more now than I ever thought I could love
another.I may not always say it, and I may not always show it
But I want you to know that you are the only one for me.
You are the only one I want to spend my life with.
If I don’t say or do things like I did when we were first married
I want you to know it is because I am so comfortable with you
That I cannot picture my life without you.
Thank you for choosing me.
Thank you for marrying me 10 years ago today.
I praise the Lord for all He has brought us through together,
And I accept the challenges, joys, and grief that we have yet to face
Because we will face them together.
Thank you for being my reliable rock,
My partner in crime,
My loving husband.
I love you,
Forever and for always,
With God as my witness,
For better or worse,
Richer or poorer,
In sickness and health,
Until death do us part.
Monday, May 6, 2013
101 update... again...
Well, I have a few more items on my 101 list to 'check' off, so to speak.
1. Do something special for Earth day one year
April 22nd we spent taking items that we would usually trash and made things from them instead. We used my bigkick and cut out pictures into shapes from a box that couldn't be recycled, used berry containers and veggie containers to sort toys, and made a little 'house' from a cracker box.
5. Visit a museum we’ve never seen before
I didn't check this one off! Back in October we saw a train museum! I can't believe I forgot it!
6. Celebrate five strange holidays
On May the 4th we went to a comic book store as it was also free comic book day, grabbed our free comic book, and my husband wore his Star Wars shirt and belt buckle while we took pics with the Mando Mercs who had informed my husband that they would be there. It was fun! We also had fun saying Star Wars quotes whenever we thought of them, and watching A New Hope that evening.
49 down, 52 to go.
1. Do something special for Earth day one year
April 22nd we spent taking items that we would usually trash and made things from them instead. We used my bigkick and cut out pictures into shapes from a box that couldn't be recycled, used berry containers and veggie containers to sort toys, and made a little 'house' from a cracker box.
5. Visit a museum we’ve never seen before
I didn't check this one off! Back in October we saw a train museum! I can't believe I forgot it!
6. Celebrate five strange holidays
On May the 4th we went to a comic book store as it was also free comic book day, grabbed our free comic book, and my husband wore his Star Wars shirt and belt buckle while we took pics with the Mando Mercs who had informed my husband that they would be there. It was fun! We also had fun saying Star Wars quotes whenever we thought of them, and watching A New Hope that evening.
49 down, 52 to go.
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